Police shot at, but did not hit, a suspect in an armed convenience store robbery before arresting him at San Marino High School early Sunday, officials said.
William Bolczak, 42, a transient from the Hemet area, was ultimately booked on suspicion of robbery and possession of prescription painkillers, Alhambra police Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez said.
The incident began about 11:20 p.m. Saturday when police responded to a robbery alarm at 7-Eleven, 1111 N. Garfield Ave., Alhambra police Sgt. Jerry Johnson said in a written statement.
Bolczak was armed with a knife during the robbery, Rodriguez said.
Moments later, a witness called police to report he had seen the robbery occur and was following the suspect as he drove east on Huntington Drive, Johnson said. With the information provided by the witness, officers found the suspect near San Marino High School, 2701 Huntington Drive.
“As the officers approached, the suspect threatened officers and made furtive movements toward his waistband,” Johnson said. “An officer-involved shooting then occurred.”
The alleged robber then ran onto the high school campus, police said. He was arrested following a search at 6:35 a.m.
The suspect was not wounded in the shooting, Rodriguez said. He did not know whether the knife used in the robbery had been recovered.
According to county booking records, Bolczak was being held in lieu of $65,000 bail pending a scheduled arraignment Wednesday in Alhambra Superior Court.